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July 2026: Government declines to widen the Thirlwall terms of reference (16 July) · new 100-page insulin report to the CCRC challenging the trial evidence (9 July) · Thirlwall report still expected no earlier than September · inquests relisted to 2027 · Shoo Lee Panel: no medical evidence of deliberate harm.

Lucy Letby Facts
Convicted
Attempted murder — convicted (2023)

Child B

The prosecution’s theory: Air embolism attempt.

Outcome: Survived

Gestation: Twin 1, female; 31+2 weeks, 1.69 kg (twin sister of Child A)

Sensitivity note: court-imposed lifelong anonymity covers every family. We use the court-assigned code only. See our families and witnesses sensitivity policy.

Verdict: Guilty, unanimousCourt finding1Court/official

Prosecution theory

Air embolism attempt.

Method alleged: Deliberate administration of air via an IV line.

Prosecution experts: Dr Dewi Evans; Dr Sandie Bohin.

Panel view (Feb 2025)

Panel: collapsed from thrombotic emboli originating from a central intravenous catheter, potentially aggravated by maternal anti-phospholipid syndrome. No evidence of air embolism.

Pathology

No fatal outcome — Baby 2 survived. Panel conclusion: she collapsed from thrombotic emboli originating from a central intravenous catheter, potentially aggravated by the mother's anti-phospholipid syndrome; there was no evidence to support air embolism. On the day of the collapse she had a kinked and impacted long venous line that was not heparinised. Her D-dimer was 6219 (normal range 220–500 ng/ml) and her platelets were low at 103 — both indicative of thrombosis.

Natural-cause alternatives identified

  • Thrombotic emboli from a kinked, non-heparinised central venous catheter — the Panel's stated cause
  • Maternal anti-phospholipid syndrome as an aggravating factor
  • Laboratory markers consistent with thrombosis (D-dimer 6219; platelets 103)

What the jury did not hear

  • The Panel's conclusion that the collapse was caused by thrombotic emboli from a central venous catheter.
  • That the long venous line was kinked, impacted and not heparinised on the day of the collapse.
  • The significance of a D-dimer of 6219 (normal 220–500) and platelets of 103 as markers of thrombosis.

Key primary sources

  • International Expert Panel — Additional 10 Cases report (June 2025), Panel Baby 2: https://lucyletbyinnocence.com/shoo-lee/International%20Expert%20Panel%20New%20Summary%20Report%20of%20additional%2010%20cases.pdf
  • R v Letby sentencing remarks (August 2023)

Read the full long-form analysis →

Last updated

Sources:

This page uses only the court-assigned code and publicly reported facts. The court imposed lifelong anonymity on every family; this site does not contact families and does not speculate about private circumstances.